August 2024 – Orange Birding

Saturday Shots, 08/24/24?

Yes, it’s Saturday Shots this week. Tomorrow, very excitingly, I head to Cape Cod to go on a two-day pelagic trip, so I will not be able to post.

As you might expect, locally my focus remains on shorebird migration. After work on Thursday I went out to the black dirt; I found very few shorebirds but I had a nice experience with a Northern Harrier in the beautiful evening light. This morning was a little more successful regarding shorebirds – just as I was leaving the house, Kyle Knapp texted me to let me know he had three American Golden-Plovers in the black dirt. The birds stuck around for my arrival, but unfortunately they were quite distant, so while I enjoyed decent scope views, photos were out of the question.

~Northern Harrier in flight, Black Dirt Region, 08/22/24.~

I also tried 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary later in the morning. Conditions are still poor for shorebirds, and probably for waders as well (I had just a handful of Great Blue Herons). My highlight was running into a mixed flock of songbirds on my way back to the car. Birds included: Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Gray Catbirds, and a couple of Black-capped Chickadees.

~Red-eyed Vireo at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 08/24/24.~

~I have this as a Blackburnian Warbler. I can’t remember if I’ve ever had this species during fall migration before. 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 08/24/24.~

~Northern Harrier in the black dirt, 08/22/24.~

~Red-tailed Hawk at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 08/24/24.~

~One more shot of the Red-eyed Vireo, 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary 08/24/24.~

Sunday Shots, 08/18/24

On Friday evening, Jeanne Cimorelli found a BAIRD’S SANDPIPER in the black dirt. Early Saturday morning, I joined forces with birding bud Bruce Nott, and we relocated the bird. In fact, we were able to find (2) BASAs. Unfortunately, the birds did not cooperate for photos, but, on Saturday I had one come closer to the road and I was able to finally get some halfway decent shots of this beautiful bird. It was my 200th species in Orange County this year. I was happy to reach that milestone, after not doing so last year.

~Baird’s Sandpiper in the black dirt, 08/18/24

I spent the weekend looking for shorebirds, but did not add any new species besides the Baird’s. My observations were limited to: Killdeer, Semipalmated Plovers, a single Pectoral Sandpiper, and Least Sandpipers. Bruce did have a Black-bellied Plover on Saturday morning, but I was unable to catch up with that bird.

I tried my luck one more time at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, but conditions remain poor for shorebirds, and in fact I did not have many waders either (3 Great Blue Herons and a single Great Egret).

~Great Egret at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 08/17/24.~

~A Baird’s Sandpiper shaking off the rain on Sunday morning in the Black Dirt Region, 08/18/24.~

~If you throw a rock in Orange County these days, there is a good chance you’ll hit a Great Egret. These dudes are seemingly everywhere right now. This one was at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 08/17/24.~

More OC Shorebirds, 08/10/24

I left the house before sunrise this morning to get out to the Black Dirt Region to see how many of yesterday’s shorebirds stuck around. Although many of the shorebirds seemed to have departed, early on a decent amount of shorebirds were still present. My list included the following species:

Killdeer
Semipalmated Pover
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Lesser Yellowlegs

~Semipalmated Plover in the black dirt, 08/10/24.~

Jeanne Cimorelli briefly located an UPLAND SANDPIPER, but unfortunately it flew almost immediately after she found it. By mid-morning, as the sun started to get higher and the temperature rose, things had pretty much dried up (both literally and figuratively). I stopped by 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary on my way home, and due to the rain, shorebird conditions are basically nonexistent. BUT! I did see a Glossy Ibis, thanks to a friendly photographer couple’s tip. Interestingly, the bird was clearly not the same individual I’d located last weekend.

~Pectoral Sandpiper in the BDR, 08/10/24.~

~Red-tailed Hawk on prey in the black dirt, 08/10/24.~

~I like this shot for a variety of reasons, but mostly because it looks like the bird’s head is backwards on its body. Another Red-tailed Hawk in the Black Dirt Region, 08/10/24.~

~One more Semiplover pic. BDR 08/10/24.~

What a Day!

QUICK POST: This evening I was out late birding until I couldn’t see anymore because the number of shorebirds in the black dirt region was off the charts. Earlier today Kyle Knapp texted me to let me know he had a good number and variety of shorebirds in the black dirt. A little later Bruce Nott let me know he had a Red-necked Phalarope at the Camel Farm. I was working, of course, so at 5 o’clock when I called it a week, I headed out to see how I could do. My highlight was finding two WILLETS – this is only the second time I’ve ever had them in the county, so I was pretty excited. Other shorebirds that I located in the black dirt this evening included: Black-bellied Plover, Killdeer, Semipalmated Plover, Least Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, and Greater Yellowlegs.

~One of two Willets in the black dirt tonight, 08/09/24.~

I’ll be curious to see how many birds stick around until tomorrow. I know that I’ll be out bright and early, looking. Thank goodness tomorrow is Saturday!

Also, one more note – there was some action at the Newburgh Riverfront today also: Jeanne Cimorelli reported at first a single Laughing Gull, and then later in the afternoon, a remarkable 21 Laughing Gulls! It will be interesting to see if the river provides any more gems tomorrow as well.

~Here they both are together. Willets in BDR, 08/09/24.~

~I was really trying to get a shot of their pretty wings, but unfortunately this is the best I could do. Willet in the black dirt, 08/09/24.~

~Pretty bird. Willet striking a pose in the black dirt, 098/08/24.~

Good Birding, Sunday 08/04/24

This morning, at my first stop in the black dirt, I found a nice collection of shorebirds in a field which had substantial puddling. I had a total of 6 species, and it made me very happy:

Killdeer
Semipalmated Plover
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Pectoral Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper

Later in the morning, I stopped by 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, hoping for more shorebirds. I didn’t have any luck with shorebirds, but I was able to locate a Glossy Ibis. It was a bonus that the bird was close enough for excellent scope views and some decent photos. I spent some time with the bird, put the word out, and then continued my search for shorebirds. Later, I saw the Glossy Ibis flying across the marsh to the far shore.